Machine and apparatusvfor extracting and refining asphalt



No. s|7,7|2. v 1 Patented 1an. |7, |899. Af F. L. BELL.

MACHINE AND APPARATUS FDR EXTRACTING AND REFININB ASPHALT.

l (Application tiled July 29, 1897.) (No Model.)

. l lill No. 6I7,7I2. Patentpd 1an. I7, |899.

A. F. L. BELL. MACHINE AND APPARATUS FR EXTRACTING AND REFIFING ASPHALT.

(Application led Juy 29, 1897.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

erica.

ARTHUR F. L. BELL, OF CARPENTERIA, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE ALCATRAZ COMPANY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

MACHlNE AND APPARATUS\FOR EXTRACTING AND REFINING ASPHALTl SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 617,712, dated January l1*?, i899. vApplication filed .Tuly 29, 1897. Serial No. 646,281. (No medal.)

To @ZZ whom/.it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR F. L. BELL,`a citizen of the United States, residing in Carpenteria, county of Santa-Barbara, and State of California, have invented certain new andy asphaltum is associated or combined in its natural state, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to devices ,for

- mixing the asphaltic material, previously dis- I, looking from the right.

integrated and softened by heat, with the liquid solvent, thus forming a solution from which the waste material is afterward separated.

.My improvements consist in a revoluble cylinder or vessel inclosed in a vapor-tight exterior shell or casing, leaving an annulus between, withwhich the main vessel is in coinmunication devices to introduce the asphaltic material against some .internal pressure, if required, and to prevent the escape of vapor or volatilized solvent; devices to agitate and cause a gradual movement of the material longitudinally through the mixing cylinder or vessel devices to admit the liquid solvent and conduct away the vapor evolved therefrom; devices to cause a periodical discharge of the insoluble matter after the solvent is incorporated with the asphaltic material; also other features of a constructive nature, hereinafter more fully pointedout and explained in connection with the drawings and in the claims at the end of this specification.

Referring to the drawings, Figure I is a longitudinal section of the machine. Fig. II is a transverse section on the line @cx in Fig.

Fig. III is a transverse section'on the line e z in Fig. I, looking from the left. Fig. IVis a transverse section on the line 'y y in Fig. I, looking from the right. Fig. V is a partial longitudinal'section through'the central cylinder. Fig. VI is a detail of a portion of Fig. IV.

The numerals of reference applyto like parts throughoutl The apparatus forming the subject of this Aapplication is known technically as the mixer and forms one in a series of ma'- chines and apparatus for the reduction of as` phaltic material. Its oice is to thoroughly incorporate with the asphaltic material, previously heated and broken, a liquid solvent,

preferably a distillate of petroleum, that will combine with the contained asphaltum and form a solution, to be afterward separated by other machines and apparatus not included in my present application.

The main cylinder l is made of iron plates riveted and .provided with bearingrings 5, that revolve on rollers at 2 on each side, as

'indicated in Fig. II, and is driven by means of a circular tooth-rack 3, and a tooth-pinion at 4, Fig; IV, in the usual manner of supporting and driving reduction-cylinders of this kind. Surrounding and in-closingthe main cylinder 1, also inclosing bymeans of connecting-housings the bearing-rollers and the driving-gearing, is a fixed casing or outer shell 6, which serves to collect and save the vapor and volatilized solvent that escapes from the interior chute l0 is performed preferably by means of a helical inward-projecting vane 1l, Figs. I and IV, riveted to the interior of the cylinder l and terminating in a discharge-scoop 16, to be hereinafter described. This same result could of course be obtained, but in a less .desirable manner and with less agitation of the mate rial, by setting the cylinder 1 at a sufficient inclination.

The dischargeway 10 can be single or double, as seen in Fig. III, and is :protected or sealed against the escape of vapor by its con- IOO nection with the next machine or apparatus employed in treating the asphaltic material. letween the convolutions of the helix 11 I place longitudinal vanos 13, Fig. Y, that agitate and raise the material as the cylinder 1- revolves, so thc solid or undissolved portions will be raised through the contained solvent or solution, and thus be the sooner reduced and saturated with the solvent.

The asphaltic material, beingfirst reduced to a plastic state by preceding machines and processes, is forced through the curved pipe S, which forms a seal against the escape of vapor back through the inlet-way, because of the plastic material in the pipe S being impervious; also, becausc'of the curved depression in this pipe, as seen in Fig. I. This si'- phon-pipe S is steam-jacketcd, so as to be kept hot, and is attached by a flange 15 tothe outer casing b', forming a close joint, as seen in Fig. I.

At the discharge end of the apparatus I provide a scoop 1li, made integral with or attachedto the main cylinder 1, that picks up at cach revolution of the latter a certain amount of the solution and the insoluble 1natter from the bottom of the cylinder. `A part of this scoop 113 is, as indicated at inFig. Y, perforated with small holes that permit most of the liquid solution to fall back again into the main cylinder, but raises and guides the sand and other insoluble 1natter,` discharging it at each revolution into the cham-` ber S), whence it falls down through the spout 10 and passes to another machine and apparatus for completely separatingthe waste or insoluble matter from the asphaltum.

The scoop 1G is a continuation of the helix 11, but is drawn in on a gradually-diminishing radius, so as to give it the forin of a di` minishing spiral in transverse section. It has a raised edge 19, imparting a trough-like form, and this has a more rapid pitch than the helix, contracting the width of the trough rapidly toward the outlet or delivery which discharges through the mouth 20 at an elevated point quite near the axis into the end of the main cylinder 1, as indicated in Figs. I, Il, and V ot" the drawings. Two or more of these scoops 113 can be employed;` but the construction shown is believed to be that most desirable. Thus it will be seen that the purpose oi'` this scoop 1H and the manner of its periodical action are to raise and. discharge at some distance above the bottom of the main cylinder 1 the solid or insoluble matter and retain the liquid contents up to or near this discharge-leyel'.

The liquid solution, such as escapes freely, finds its way into the -tnnpartment .t by pouring over the segmental discharge-way at 21,

4and such portion of the solution as is retained in the sand or other insoluble matter is discharged by the scoop 1V. The amount of solution that is discharged over the segmental dam E21 is regulated by the supply of solvent from the pipe S29, and the level o hfers 2 liquid within the maincylinderl can be raised or lowered by moving the dam l outward or inward from the center or by substituting segments ot diilerent widths. This dam 21 can be of helical or other form to equalize the discharge throughout its are, it required.

The liquid solvent is supplied through the pipe 92 and discharged near where the material falls from the inlet-pipe S. Vapor eollecting in the chamber 7 passes oft through the pipe E23 to a condenser, where it is liquefied and saved.

The housings 2S, thatcontain the pinions l, are bolted to the outer casing t? and are provided with glands 26 to prevent the escape of vapor around the shaft 27. The bearing-rollare mounted in the housings 2S, also bolted to the fixed outer casing l, screws 2) being provided to raise thc cylinder 1 clear of these rollers when they require to be moved or adjusted;

The rollersl are to facilitate removal of the main cylinder 1 from the casing G, and 35 is a manhole tovgive access to the interior.

llaving thus described the nature and object of my invention, wha-tI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Iatent, is-

1. In asphaltum extracting and retining apparatus, a revoluble mixing vessel or cylinder provided on its interior with a helical vane to move the material longitudinally, longitudinal vanes set between the convolutions of the helical Vane to raise andagitate the asphaltic material, a sealed steam-jacketed feedway to introduce the asphaltic material and means for introducing a liquid solvent to be incorporated therewith, all combined and operating substantially as speci,- ied. l l

2. In asphaltum extracting and refining apparatus, a revoluble mixing cylinder surrounded and inclosed `by a vapor-collecting chamber or casing, a sealed steam-jacketed inlet-Way for the asphaltic material connected to the external casing and open thereto; means to move the asphaltic material longitudinally through the mixing-cylinder, and

-means to raise aud discharge the same above the bottom of the mixing-cylinder, in the 1n anner substantially as specified.

In asphaltum extracting and refining ap-l paratus, a revoluble mixing-cylinder, means to support and revolve the same, the whole inclosed in a shell or casing, or in closed chambers attached thereto, a sealed steam-jacketed inlet-pipe for the asphaltic material and an inlet-pipc for the liquid solvent, both discharging within and at one end of the miv-` ing-cylinder, a helical inward projecting vane therein to move the material longitudinally, and longitudinal vanos to raise and agitate the saine, combined and operatingin the manner substantially as described.

l. In asphaltum extracting and relinin g apparatus, a revoluble mixing-cylinder to incorporate the asphaltic material with a liquid solvent, annular ends and central openings IIO in this cylinder, open to and communicating with a surrounding casing, but sealed tothe external air, a sealed inlet for the asphaltic material at or near one end of the mixingcylinder, and at theonter end a revolving scoop that raises and discharges the insoluble matter through the opening in the discharge end of the'mixing-cylinder, whereby the latter remains partially filled with the liquid solution or solvent, substantiallyas described.

5. In asphaltum extracting and refining apparatus, a revoluble mixing-cylinder inclosed within and opening at its ends to an inclosing vapor-tight casing, the ends of the cylinder having central openings equal to about one-third of the cylinders diameter, through which openings the asphaltic material is received and discharged, at one end a sealed inlet-Way for the asphaltic materiahand at the other end a lifting-scoop attached to and -revolving with the mixing-cylinder, raising the insoluble matter from the bottom of the cylinder and discharging it at eachrevolution through the opening in the discharge end of the same, substantially as specied.

G. In asphaltum extractingand reiining apparatus, a revoluble mixing-cylinder inclosed within and open to an inclosing vapor-tight casing, the ends of the cylinder having openings equal to about one-third of its diameter,- through which the asphaltic material isv received and discharged, at one end a sealed inlet-,way for the asphaltic material, and at the other end a discharging scoop or scoops at- 35 tached to and revolving with the mixing-cylinder to raise and discharge the insoluble mat'- ter, said scoop provided with perforations or a screen at its bottom so the free liquid solution or solvent can drain back and remain in 4o the mixing vessel, substantially as described.

7 In asphaltum extracting and rening apparatus, a revoluble mixing-cylinder having central openings in its ends, means to introduce therein the asphaltic .material and a 45 liquid solvent therefor, a scoop or scoops attached to and revolving with the mixing-cylinder, :to raise and discharge intermittently insoluble or Waste matter, and therewith a segmental dam over which the liquid contents 5o of the cylinder can escape at some predetera mined height or level, in the manner substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two Wita 55 nessesi ARTHUR Ff L. BELL. WVitnesses:

S. McADAMs, VICTOR S. HALL. 

